King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If [it be] so, why [am] I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The children fought with each other inside her so much that she said, "If it's going to be like this, why go on living?" So she went to inquire of ADONAI,
Berean Standard Bible:
But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD,
American Standard Version:
And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, wherefore do I live? And she went to inquire of Jehovah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the children{H1121} struggled together{H7533} within her{H7130}; and she said{H559}, If it be so, why am I thus{H2088}? And she went{H3212} to enquire{H1875} of the LORD{H3068}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Samuel 9:9
- (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
1 Samuel 28:6
- And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Ezekiel 20:31
- For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.
1 Samuel 30:8
- And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake [them], and without fail recover [all].
1 Samuel 10:22
- Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.
Ezekiel 36:37
- Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet [for] this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do [it] for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.
1 Samuel 22:15
- Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute [any] thing unto his servant, [nor] to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 25:22
Genesis 25:22 is a verse from the Old Testament that captures a moment within the narrative of Rebekah, the wife of Isaac. The historical context of this verse is set in the patriarchal period, which is characterized by the stories of the ancestors of the Israelite people.
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Promises and Predestination:** This verse is part of the unfolding story of God's promises to Abraham, which are being passed down to his grandchildren through Isaac and Rebekah. The struggle within Rebekah's womb is a precursor to the future rivalry between her twin sons, Esau and Jacob, and reflects the theme of predestination and the fulfillment of divine promises.
2. **Sibling Rivalry:** The physical struggle between the twins in the womb foreshadows the lifelong conflict and competition that will characterize the relationship between Esau and Jacob. This theme of sibling rivalry is a recurring motif in the book of Genesis.
3. **Seeking Divine Guidance:** Rebekah's response to the turmoil within her is to seek the Lord's counsel. This reflects the theme of seeking divine guidance in times of uncertainty or distress, a practice common among the patriarchs and matriarchs.
4. **God's Sovereignty:** The verse underscores the sovereignty of God over human affairs, including the lives of individuals before they are born. God's response to Rebekah, which follows in the next verses, reveals His plan for the twins and affirms His control over their destinies.
**Historical Context:**
The verse is set in the period after the patriarch Abraham's death, when his son Isaac has taken over as the head of the family. Isaac and Rebekah are the bearers of the covenantal promise that God made to Abraham, which includes the promise of numerous descendants and a special land for them. This period is marked by the establishment of the early Israelite traditions and the continuation of the covenantal relationship between God and the patriarchs.
Rebekah's pregnancy and the oracle she receives regarding her sons are central to the developing narrative of the chosen lineage. The events that unfold as a result of this pregnancy will eventually lead to the birth of the twelve tribes of Israel through Jacob, whose name is later changed to Israel. Thus, Genesis 25:22 is a pivotal point in the biblical narrative that sets the stage for the complex dynamics of the next generation of Israel's ancestors.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H7533
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָצַץ
Transliteration: râtsats
Pronunciation: raw-tsats'
Description: a primitive root; to crack in pieces, literally or figuratively; break, bruise, crush, discourage, oppress, struggle together. - Strong's Number: H7130
There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֶרֶב
Transliteration: qereb
Pronunciation: keh'-reb
Description: from קָרַב; properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition); [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H2088
There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זֶה
Transliteration: zeh
Pronunciation: zeh
Description: a primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that; he, [idiom] hence, [idiom] here, it(-self), [idiom] now, [idiom] of him, the one...the other, [idiom] than the other, ([idiom] out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, [idiom] thus, very, which. Compare זֹאת, זֹה, זוֹ, זוּ. - Strong's Number: H3212
There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַךְ
Transliteration: yâlak
Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. - Strong's Number: H1875
There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּרַשׁ
Transliteration: dârash
Pronunciation: daw-rash'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship; ask, [idiom] at all, care for, [idiom] diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-) mancer, question, require, search, seek (for, out), [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.